West African Drumming – Fall ’24
Thursdays, starting Sept 18th: 6 – 7:30 pm
Back by popular demand. Enter into the exciting polyrhythmic music of West Africa. Participants will learn the history, technique and tradition of West African percussion instruments such as the djembe, sangban, kenkeni, dununba and shekere. No previous experience needed. Over the course of 6 weeks, you will learn a song and all the parts of a traditional West African rhythm, as well as its origins including language, people group, and the social function of that song.
Instruments provided for up to 20 participants. Or, you can bring your own. This is for students age 13 and up, or younger students who are attending with an adult supervisor.
Drop in class – $15
5 class card – $60
Taught by Jay Beck
Jay Beck is a percussionist, vocalist, drum-maker, storyteller, actor and educator who has been performing, teaching, touring and recording professionally for many years visiting 15 countries through four continents. He has performed with numerous groups including Madison Greene, Woodspeak, Unidos da Filadelfia, Phillybloco, Netos de Kansala West African Drum and Dance ensemble, Psalters and BEAST. He is a founder of Holy Fool Arts, a core organizer for the Carnival de Resistance and collaborates with his partner Tevyn East. He has studied West African traditional drumming under Mamady Keita, Babatunde Olatunji and Anssumane Silla. He has studied Afro-Cuban drumming, samba drumming, traditional Sicilian frame drumming from masters in the field. He has taught cross cultural percussion workshops as well as using the arts for rites of passage work and cross cultural understanding from age levels of elementary school students to university students as well as at music festivals and after school programs for youth through Artwell in Philadelphia.
